A Unified Development Ordinance (or a “UDO”) is an integrated set of laws governing the use of land within the corporate limits of the Town. This has been historically called the Land Use Ordinance ("LUO") in other communities. The UDO establishes the kinds of land uses that may be permitted, where those uses may be permitted, the process used by the Town to consider requests to establish allowable uses, how uses and land development activities may be operated, how sites and site features supporting land uses are to be configured, and how violations of the Town’s land use rules are determined and addressed. In addition to the written rules, the UDO also includes the Official Zoning Map, or the graphic distribution of zoning districts (and thus allowable use types).

The Town’s adopted policy guidance is a set of goals, objectives, and policies for future land use and development in Carrboro. It represents a generally agreed-upon or shared vision and direction for the future. Adopted policy guidance is based on sound research and practice that seeks to understand current needs, project those needs into the future, and make recommendations about how to optimize future outcomes based on shared desires and goals. The primary piece of adopted land use policy guidance in Carrboro is Carrboro Connects, the 2022-2042 Comprehensive Plan. This document expresses the Town’s vision for its future in terms of land use and outlines the goals and actions necessary to realize this vision. Also included in the Town’s adopted policy guidance is the Community Climate Action Plan, Bicycle Transportation Plan, and the Language Access Plan.

The Code Diagnosis is a comprehensive document that contains a thorough review and analysis of Policy Guidance documents, such as Carrboro Connects; a table providing a detailed review and proposed actions for all current development regulations; a summary of public input provided thus far; and a list of Key themes for improvement.

The Comprehensive Plan is an overall plan adopted by the Town to create a future vision and guide the development of the Town for the next twenty years. It provides goals and actions to be taken by the Town in order to implement the vision delineated in the Plan.

The Unified Development Ordinance is the rules and regulations specifically written to guide development in Carrboro. It is one of the legislative tools used to implement the vision and actions in the Comprehensive Plan.

The main difference is the Comprehensive Plan is guidance, and the Unified Development Ordinance is law. They are related in that the laws in the UDO are shaped by the guidance provided in the Comprehensive Plan.

The Town recently adopted Carrboro Connects, the Comprehensive Plan which provides a framework for the future of Carrboro. The current land development ordinances in the Town have not been comprehensively reviewed and updated in nearly 40 years. This planning process and rewrite of the Unified Development Ordinance is intended to be one of the many tools the Town is utilizing to implement the various climate, race and equity, stormwater, and sustainable development goals of Carrboro Connects. It will be user-friendly and contain clear and predictable processes and procedures.

Public engagement is critical to the success of the Carrboro UDO. Town staff and the consulting team are devoted to making sure that anyone who wishes to be involved and share input or feedback on the project may do so at numerous points throughout the process.

Public engagement during the early phases of the process has been targeted to technical experts and interested parties and broadens to the general public after initial draft materials are ready for consideration. This project web page is built to share information about the project, includes draft work products, status updates, and many other elements designed to keep folks informed about our progress. This webpage will be maintained and updated throughout the course of the project.

The project includes a series of public forums at key stages in the process (review of Code Diagnosis, review of Initial Draft Text/Testing). Public forums are structured as open houses where a summary presentation is given and there is time for informal questions and answers. Some public forums (may be set up as public workshops with numerous different “stations” where residents and interested individuals can speak directly to Town staff or the consulting team. All public forums will take place in person Details on public forums will be posted on this webpage as the project progresses.

The consultants and Town staff will also be present at community events where residents are encouraged and invited to stop by and participate in small exercises, review information boards, but mostly interact and have conversations with the Team.

The adoption process includes at least two public meetings for interested individuals to attend and share input on the proposed regulations with the Planning Board or the Town Council during the Adoption task anticipated in Winter of 2026.

The project information line is a dedicated phone number (919-913-3181) that allows concerned citizens to leave a comment by voice mail, learn about upcoming events, or connect with planning staff if they have a question.